2003 Jaguar S-Type Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe brake-related problems, especially the electronic parking brake applying by itself or failing to release, along with ABS and park brake warning messages. A second recurring theme is unintended acceleration or surging, usually reported at low speed while parking or pulling away, plus occasional reports of the gearbox selecting reverse while in drive. Many of these complaints arrive at lower mileages than the brake wear items, and dealers frequently could not reproduce the symptoms.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Parking brake applies or locks on its own

   • 25 complaints (25%)
   • median 47,000 mi at 6.2 yrs old (20 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2019

   Complaints describe the electronic parking brake engaging without the driver touching it, sometimes while driving, so the car slows or the rear wheels lock. Others report the parking brake refusing to release after start-up, or a park brake fault message and constant warning tone in the instrument cluster. Several owners say the dealer told them their vehicle was not covered by the parking brake recall even though the symptoms matched, leaving repairs at their own cost; a service bulletin covers an electronic parking brake re-calibration procedure. Reported from roughly 47,000 to 198,000 miles, with several cases around 54,000-75,000 miles and in mixed driving conditions.

   Recall 04V4880004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the parking brake module has been replaced or recalibrated, and check the vehicle's recall status by VIN. Test that the brake releases cleanly and watch for park brake fault messages on the dash.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “(1) events leading up to the failure: none. The car has been routinely serviced. (2) failure and its consequences: the car, twice, while attempting to accelerate, would slow down and seems to be weighed down. The car will not accelerate. The ABS brakes go off, and the emergency brake lights go off. Also, error report appears stating that there is a brake failure. It puts me at risk for accidents because on both occasion I was driving the car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10157765, filed 2006-05, 47,000 miles

   “Hi the car started braking itself without pushing the brake then I see the parking brake light fault it the dashboard. I can't drive the car like this.”

   NHTSA complaint #10548242, filed 2013-10, 53,000 miles
2. 2
   Vehicle speed control

   Engine surges or accelerates at low speed

   • 24 complaints (24%)
   • median 38,814 mi at 4.8 yrs old (22 state mileage)
   • 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2022

   Owners describe the engine revving up and the car lurching forward or backward while their foot is on the brake, typically while parking, pulling out of a space, or creeping in traffic. Some say it took both feet on the brake to stop the car, and that engine speed dropped back to idle on its own after a few seconds. According to the complaints, dealers often could not duplicate the problem, and in a few cases the stability control light came on around the same time. Spread from under 10,000 miles to about 80,000 miles, mostly during low-speed maneuvering such as parking or reversing.

   What to check: During a test drive, try slow parking-lot maneuvers and reverse with your foot on the brake, and ask whether any throttle or pedal sensor work has been done. Check for stored fault codes related to the stability control system.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While approaching a stop sign and applying my brakes the car involuntarily accelerated on to incoming traffic. The car was revving at high speed and could not be stopped. I had both feet on the brakes but car was not responding . …”

   NHTSA complaint #10519520, filed 2013-06, 80,000 miles

   “Unintended and out of control acceleration I was slowly pulling out of a parallel parking place with my left foot still on the brake. The car suddenly accelerated with the engine speeding. It took both feet on the brake to bring the car to a stop, just short of a pedestrian in a cross walk. The engine dropped to idle after a few seconds. The car was delivered to woburn Jaguar who worked on it but could not duplicate the problem. Jaguar cars in nj was advised but offered no help.”

   NHTSA complaint #10191266, filed 2007-05, 7,100 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Gearbox shifts to reverse or drops power in drive

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the transmission selecting reverse while the shifter is in drive, sometimes with a gearbox fault warning, or the car slowing sharply when the driver tries to accelerate. Owners report the vehicle refusing to come out of park and losing power on the highway, and one notes the transmission slowing the car dramatically when trying to pass. Dealers in these reports were often unable to find a fault. Reported from very low mileage up to about 120,000 miles, both around town and at highway speed.

   Recall 04V0240001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Confirm whether the transmission recall work was completed for this VIN. On a test drive, check for harsh or hesitant shifts and any gearbox fault message, and ask for service records on transmission work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2003 Jaguar S-Type was recalled in 2004, recall #42036 (r513) power train: automatic transmission. I purchased my Jaguar as the second owner 1 1/2 years ago. I have had trouble with the car. For instance when I attempt to pass another vehicle on the highway and try to speed up the transmission slows the car down significantly. If I am traveling at 55 m.p.h and accelerate the car will immediately slow to about 30 m.p.h or less. It is very scary! And could result in a crash (as the warning stated on the recall)! …”

   NHTSA complaint #10695318, filed 2015-03, 71,000 miles

   “2003 Jaguar 4.2 r equipped with continenal tires 275/35/zr18 april 2, 2003 right rear blow out 50mph at 3550 miles. Dealer stated road hazard june 25, 2003. Left front blow out at 70 MPH ,7000 miles. Dealer states road hazard. Both blowouts were on sidewall below tread. Tires appears to fail under speed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10023820, filed 2003-06, 7,000 miles
4. 4
   Equipment

   Climate control and touchscreen stop responding

   • 8 complaints (8%)
   • median 300 mi at 1.0 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2003–2011

   Owners report the climate control ignoring all input, so the air conditioning or heater stops working until the car is switched off and restarted. Some describe a navigation/touchscreen system showing an hourglass and then a communications fault message, and say the dealer told them the climate and navigation systems did not work reliably together. Repeated dealer visits reportedly did not resolve it. Mostly reported at very low mileage, generally under about 5,000 miles and often in hot or cold weather.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Cycle the climate control through hot and cold settings and check that the touchscreen responds without fault messages. Ask whether the infotainment or climate control module has been replaced or updated.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The touch panel screen displayed an hour glass then ultimately came up with a 'communications fault' error message on the screen. Stopping and re-starting the car corrected the problem. This problem has occurred serveral times (> 4) since we bought the car. The car has been in for service for this and other problems in excess of 30 days since we bought it in oct 2003.”

   NHTSA complaint #10058891, filed 2004-02, 300 miles

   “Climate control and navigation system. The dealer informed me that the climate control system and navigation system do not work together. When the outside temp reaches 85 or above the A/C will not work. I must turn the car off to reset. If the outside temp is below 45, the heat does not work. I have been informed that the fix will be out in feb of 2004. This problem started in june of 2003. I have made dozens of calls to the local dealer and national. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10052674, filed 2004-01, 5,000 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   Brake pedal feels soft or rear brakes lock

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the brake pedal losing resistance and going to the floor, or the rear brakes locking and sending the car into a spin, sometimes with the ABS light on. Owners also report rotors warping repeatedly and uneven rear pad wear. In several cases dealers replaced the master cylinder or ABS module, and in others they could not find a fault. Reported from a few thousand miles up to about 80,000 miles, in both normal driving and braking from highway speed.

   Recall 04V4840003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check brake fluid level and pedal feel, look at rear rotor condition and pad wear, and ask for records of master cylinder or ABS module replacement.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The coolant low warning light displayed. The first time this happened, we topped of the coolant. Within 1 month it was displaying again. We took the car to the dealer. They attributed the problem to a loose clamp. They replaced the clamps. They also replaced a belt because the coolant had been dripping onto it causing it to degrade. Within 2 months, the light came on again. We took the car back to the dealer. This time they replaced all of the hoses.”

   NHTSA complaint #10058893, filed 2004-02, 350 miles

   “I have a 2003 Jaguar s type r. At 32,000 miles I had to replace the pads of my vehicle at all 4 corners. Since then my rotors constantly keep warping, even after I brought the car back twice and my rear brakes have unevenly worn down to the point that my right rear rotor started grinding. My car has been in the shop numerous times to have warranty work done and I have informed the dealership of the specific tsbs that correlate to my issues. My rear parking brake module was replaced twice, as was my right rear wheel hub. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10260787, filed 2009-03, 54,000 miles

Buying note. These complaints centre on the electronic parking brake and brake hydraulics, so confirm recall work by VIN and have the brake system inspected before purchase. A pre-purchase scan for stored fault codes and a slow-speed test drive are worthwhile given the reports of surging and transmission behaviour.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.